Want to get rid of that used musical instrument in your closet? Local DeKalb (IL) area businessman and former NIU Marching Band Director Michael Embrey is looking or a few good musical instruments.
Michael has been invited to be part of a musical humanitarian project, where music educators/teachers volunteer to travel to Jamaica to provide both instruction and instruments to local students who would not ever get a chance to make music. Michael will spend ten days helping inspire young people and teaching them how to play an instrument. Each instructor pays their own way as well as paying for their own housing to be part of this project. Instruments donated will be left with these aspiring young musicians so they can continue to make music and add to their local culture. This is the tenth year of this project and each year more students become excited to learn to make music. This project starts January 4th. Please support if you can – any instrument helps!
This is not new for Michael Embrey, as he has been giving away pre-owned instruments for years.
“I enjoy seeing young students get a chance at playing a musical instrument, even when the cost become a challenge,” said Embrey. “I have had a chance to find families that cannot even afford to rent a starter instrument. Once young people get hooked on playing an instrument, they continue through junior high school, high school and many play into college. ”
Music, particularly learning to read and play music, seems to be linked to a number of benefits for young people, including better processing of language and improved reading skills. Research shows that learning the do-re-mis of music can help children excel in ways beyond the basic ABCs of academics. Many parents, teachers, scholars, and businesses are interested in learning more about the influence of music on the development of children. Others studies focus on how formal music training impacts various aspects of cognitive development such as perception, memory, and linguistic skills.
If you would like to make a donation, please contact Michael Embrey at M.Embrey@FunMEevents.com or call his office at (815) 756-1263.
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